Controller for electric traveling machines



.Oct.'2, 1945. I P. B. HARWOOD ETAL 2,335,917. coumonwn FOR Ewcmc TRAVELING MACHINES Filed Jui 10, 1942 i f 0\ BRIDGE. NO. 1 BRIDGE No. z 3' PANEL W PANEL Patented Oct. 2, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC TRAVELING MACHINES r Paisley B. Harwood and John M. Newman, Wau watosa, Wis., assignors to Cutler-Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Delaware Application July 10, 1942, Serial No. 450,480;

8 Claims. (01. 246-31 a This invention relates to controllers for electric traveling cranes and other traveling machines. a

In practice it frequently is desired to have a number of traveling cranes on the same set of tracks and in some instances it is important to maintain the cranes a given minimum distance apart for reasons other than prevention of collisions.. The minimum safe spacing may vary in different instances and where minimum spacing is desired for protection against concentration of weight it maybe. necessary to maintain the desired spacing at numerous points or at all points along the common runway. Also it is sometimes desired to limit the approach of one traveling machine to another even though they travel dif ferent tracks and in instances even where they travel in different planes but yet have parts which. may interfere.

The present invention has among its objects to provide flexible and reliable control means to so limit cranes and other traveling machines in their approach one to another, without otherwise interfering with their operation.

Another object is to provide control means of the character stated which may be readily designed to meet difierent conditions, as for eXam- I ple maintaining a given minimum-spacing at any or all points along the common runway.

Another object is to provide control means of the character stated which will be equally effective regardless of whether the approach of two cranes is due to operation thereof in opposite directions or to overtaking of either by the other.

Various other objects and advantages ofthe invention will hereinafter appear.

,One embodiment of the invention is depicted in the accompanying drawing which shows diagrammatically portions of controllers for two cranes and the showing of the drawing will now be described, it being understood that it is susceptible ofvariousmodifications without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, the control shown therein is especially designed for crane control systems wherein travel of each crane is dependent upon energization of an individual so-called under-voltage relay, and the drawin shows two such relays designated UV and UV respectively. These relays are shown as representative of the control panels of two bridges, it being understood that the panels may be of any one of the well known types which upon energization of its under-voltage relay may be manipulatedto effect v movement ofits-bridge in either direction and which upon deenergization of its under-voltage relay automatically stops the travel of its bridge; Each relay has contacts 5 representative of the desired main contacts thereofand additionally has auxiliary contacts 6 and 1 for. purposes hereinafter set forth. These relays which have operating windings 8 are shown as deenergize'd, and it may be assumed that this has resulted from failure of power;

Also the drawing shows the two controllers as comprising master switches 9 and I0, but it shows only those contacts of each master switch required for control of the elements shown. As

.will be understood, each master switch is movable in reverse directions from an intermediate ofi position, as indicated in the drawing, to effect reverse movements of its respective bridge. It is assumed that the master switches move in like directions to effect travel of their respective bridges in like directions. Also it will be understood that ordinarily the master switch contacts effect reversals through electromagnetic reversing switches and that each master switch has contacts affording through the mediumof lectromagnetic means selection of any of a number of speeds. Such contacts of the master switches have been omitted for simplicity of illustration. The master switches are schematically shown as of the drum type and the contacts thereof which have been shown comprise in each instance stationary contacts l2, l3 and I4 and cooperating segments. .Each of the contacts I 2 in all positions of its respective drum is engaged by a segment l2. Each of the contacts l3 in the off position of its respective drum is engaged by a short segment 13, such segment disengaging its respective contact when its respective drum is moved to a running position in either direction. The contact [4 of drum 9 is in the oil position of said drum engaged by a segment M and the contact I of drum I0 is in the ofi position of the latter drum engaged by a segment W In each case the contact I4 is engaged by its segment throughout movement of its drum in one direc- [5 and contacts l6 and IT. This relay, as will later appear, controls the under-voltage relays of is shunted as hereinafter set forth. Each con troller has trolley wheels and 2| engaging trol- 'ley wires T and T respectively. I t

Also each controller has a trolley wheel 22*to V engage a trolley wire or track 23 and cachcontroller has a trolley wheel 24 -to-engage-a split or sectional trolley rail 25. The rail 25 comprises a series of aligned but spaced sections 25% and a series of aligned but spaced sections 25 The series of sections 25 and 25 are arranged in a parallel spaced relation and the sections 25% are staggered with respect tosections 25 whereby each trolley wheel 24 alwaysengag'es -either a section 25* or a section 25*. g 3 a a i Assuming the r'naster switches to be positioned as illustratedsupply ofpower by the trolleywirs T T will"energize the relays UV and UV?-in-' dependentlyof the relay CR and "will ais'o'ener gize relay CR, thus making ready for use of the controllers of both bridges. Referring to the-con troller for bridge No. 2, circuit may be traced from trolley wire T andwheel 20 by wire fto contact 12 of drum IE and thence through segment- IZ segment 13 contact l3 bywire 3i to and through windings of relay Uv to trolley wire T similarly'circuit maybe traced from trolley wire T by wire 32 to'the master switch 9 of bridge No. l and thence through saidlmas ter switch by wire 33 to and through the winding 8 of relay UV to trolley wire T2. Additionally,

circuit may be traced from trolley wirej'Ii by wire 32 to and through the winding of relay CR and resistance R in series to wire34 and trolley wireT g f y M The relays UV and UV? upon responding establish for themselves maintaining circuits. Contacts l of relay UV establish a maintaining'cir cuit for said relay extending from Wire 3 Iv through said contacts by wire 35 to contact l4 cfmaster switch [0, and thence through Segments MP. and :2 to contact l2, which as previousl fexplained is connected to trolley wire T This maintaining circuit is of course dependent upon movement of the master switch ina given direction f romloif position, and if the master switch is moved in the opposite direction from off 130.517. tion themaintaining circuit is interrupted. How;- ever, contactsfi of. relay U V establish for said relay an alternative maintaining circuit through the contacts of relay CR. This maintaining cult extends .from wire 3| through contacts .6--of relay U-V by wire 36 to trolley'wheel 22 by trolley rail 23 to trolley Wheel 22 of the controller for bridge No. l, by wire 31 throughcontacts ll of relay CR towir-e 3 2, and thence to trolley T 1 Thus if it be assumed the fbli'dg'mifi; 2"only 'move toward bridge No. I when theiniaster tojrolley wire T bridge No. I only moves toward bridgt N0. 2 when wire 33 through contacts 1, by wire 38 to and through the contacts 14, M l2 and [2 of the master switch 9, by wire 32 to trolley wire T This maintaining circuit is continued if the master'switch 9 is moved in a given direction from off position but is interrupted if the master switch is moved in a reverse direction from off position. However, relay UV establishes for itself a second maintaining circuit extending from wire '33 through contacts 6 of said relay by conductor 39 to and through the contacts I6 of relay CR Thus if it be assumed that the master switch 9 is moved to disengage con tacts -l4 and [4 the relay UV will be dependent upon relay CR for continued energization when bridge .Nohl is moved toward bridge No. 2.

Consequently if both bridges are set in motion to approach one another the relay CR affords a means for deenergizing both relays U V v and UV to arrest both bridges. Relay CR-is made. efiective for this purpose by deenergizing the same by a short-circuit for its Winding l5 controlled by the sectional trolley rail. When the tlrolley wheels 24 of bothcontrollers contact simultaneously either a section 25 or a section 25 i cir cuit is completed from a point between "winding and resistance R by wire 40 to trolley wheel 24 of the control of bridge No. I through asec tion of the trolley rail to trolley wheel 224K015 bridge No; 2 by wires 4! and 30 to the, trolley wire feeding winding l5. 'Thu winding I5is I short-circuited to drop out relay CR, with theresults aforedescribe'd, and as will be apparent the bridges will be stopped to maintainaspacing thereof determined by the construction ofjthe sectional trolley rail, As shown the sections are of uniform length and the staggering is such that stopping will be effected. with the brid es spaced a distance corresponding to the full length -oi.;one

section down to one-half the lengthjoi .0116 SEQ-1 tion as a minimum;

If one bridge. is moved towardjthe other whi e;

the latter is stationary when the relay CB'. upon is necessary. Likewise if both bridges are mQving in the same direction'tooclose an approachwill 1 only result in .deenergizing the .under voltagelre- 1 means may cause said controller to stop the-first machine, and means mechanically acting toei f-ect the aforementioned action of: said means upon predetermined approach of the first ma ehinerto i wards the second -machine, saidcontrolieree stricting influence thereon by-theafirst mentioned lay of the following bridge. .The leadin'g'jbridge will continue its movement because o'f-theimaintaining M as the case may be, and when the short-circuit of the CR relay winding is againinterrupted,

said relay will be again energiz'ed'toeher'giz'e..the

under-voltage relayiof the followingi'bridge." c

Obviously the sectional rail 2.5.niay be readily modified to meet. different requirementslas to spacing. ofthe'bridge and asto ;l:JOj.ntvS.;where' What we claimas new and desire tossecure by means to a single direction of travel of the first circuit for its underzvoltage; relay; through its master switch contacts I4 and M 01'.

machine, thereby to render the first machine free for reverse travel irrespective of the condition of the first mentioned means.

2. In a controller for traveling machines, in combination, a controller for a first machine to be carried by such machine, means to be carried by a second machine and having a trolley rail interconnection with said controller whereby said means may cause said controller to stop the first machine, and means mechanically acting to effect the aforementioned action of said means upon predetermined approach of the first machine towards the second machine, said controller restricting influence thereon by the first mentioned means to a single direction of travel of the first machine thereby to render the first machine free for reverse travel irrespective of the condition of the first mentioned means, the second mentioned means also mechanically acting to effect normal setting of the first mentioned means upon reverse travel of the first machine following stopping thereof by operation of the first mentioned means.

3. In a controller for traveling machines, in combination, a controller for a first machine to be carried by such machine, means to be carried by a second machine and having a trolley rail interconnection with said controller whereby said means may cause said controller to stop the first machine, and means comprising a sectional trolley rail common to the machines to effect operation of the first mentioned means when any section of said sectional rail is engaged by the trolleys of both machines and to effect restoration of the first mentioned means to normal condition when the active rail section is no longer engaged by the trolleys of both machines, said controller restricting influence thereon by the first mentioned means to a single direction of travel of the first machine thereby to render the first machine free for reverse travel irrespective of the condition of the first mentioned means.

4. In a controller for reversible traveling machines, individual controllers fora. first machine and a second machine to be carried by said machines respectively, means carried by one machine and having interconnections with both of said controllers whereby said means may cause said controllers to stop their respective machines, and means mechanically acting to effect operation of the first mentioned meansupon predetermined approach of either machine towards the other, each of said controllers restricting to a single direction of travel of its respective machine influence thereon by such operation of the first mentioned means whereby such operation of the first mentioned means will influence both controllers or will influence the same only selectively, according to operating conditions.

5. In a controller for a plurality of traveling machines, the combination with individual controllers for the machines, each including a normally energized relay to be deenergized to effect stopping of its respective machine, one of said controllers having a device operable with tendency to deenergize all of said relays and each of said controllers having means to render its relay independent of said device during movement in a given direction of its respective traveling machine, control means for said device including mechanical means by which approach of the traveling machines one to another is detected to render said device operative unless within a given zone of travel of the machines a given minimum spacing of the machines is maintained.

6. In a controller for a plurality of traveling machines, the combination with individual controllers for the machines, each including a normally energized relay to be deenergized to effect stopping of its respective machine, one of said controllers having a device operable with tendency to deenergize all of said relays and each of said controllers having means to render its relay independent of said device during movement in a given direction of its respective traveling machine, of control means for said device, comprising a sectional trolley rail common to said individual controllers, the sections of said rail being in parallel rows with the sections of one row in staggered relation to the sections of another row.

7. In a controller for a plurality of reversible traveling machines, in combination, a sectional trolley rail, an individual trolley wheel for each traveling machine to engage said trolley rail, electroresponsive means operable when the trolley wheels of two machines engage the same section of said trolley rail, and individual controllers for the traveling machines, each of said controllers comprising a stopping element through the medium of which its respective machine may be stopped and an element to place the stopping element under the control of said electroresponsive means when its respective machine moves in one direction and to render such stopping element free from influence by said electroresponsive means when the same machine moves in reverse direction, whereby when the trolley wheels of two machines engage the same section of said rail one or both of such machines will be stopped according to operating conditions.

3. In a controller for a plurality of reversible traveling machines, in combination, a sectional trolley rail comprising parallel rows of sections with the sections of the rows in staggered relation, individual sets of trolley wheels for the traveling machines, each set to engage the parallel rows of trolley rail sections, electroresponsive means operable when trolley wheels of two machines simultaneously engage any individual section of said trolley rail, and individual controllers for the traveling machines, each of said controllers comprising a stopping element through the medium of which its respective machine may be stopped and an element which when the respectiv machine moves in one direction places the stopping element under the control of said electroresponsive means and which for reverse operation of the same machine renders its stoppingfelement free from influence by said electroresponsive means, whereby when the trolley wheels of two machines engage any individual section of said rail one or both of such machines will "be stopped according to operating conditions.

PAISLEY B. HARWOOD. JOHN M. NEWMAN. 

